Hardball : How Politics Is Played Told By One Who Knows The Game
Author: Chris Matthews
List Price: $14.00
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ISBN: 0684845598
Publisher: Free Press (02 November, 1999)
Sales Rank: 29,768
Average Customer Rating: 4.61 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
How To Win Friends and Influence People - - Hardball style !
This book has often been described as Machiavelli for the '90s and beyond. One might even joke the cynical side of Dale Carnegie's "How To Win Friend's and Influence People" - - A brilliant story teller, Chris Matthews has written a book that to this day if actually read transcends his controversial personality and is an indepth study of how people get ahead... its not just a book for politicians - - everyone should read it - - whether viewed as a study of greed, or a guide to how to get ahead in life, Matthews makes some brilliant observations - - learned from a wide variety of political personae on all sides of the ideological coin, and proving the one thing that every political ideologue in Washington has in common - - a modus of operendi relating to their success based on their ability to pull people's strings. - - In essence, Hardball is a study of just this - - the art of pulling people's strings by understanding what makes them tick, incuring favor, indebting them to you (often by having *them* do *you* favor !) and playing by certain rules. - - People politics are key to the game of life in any field (whether or not you like the game.)On his TV show, Chris Matthews comes across as a cranky anti-intellectual motor mouth - - one who can have 7 guests, and not a single one will get a word in likewise... The myth of Chris Matthews is best characterized by SNL's Darell Hammond's routine where he's always cutting people off with that hillarious, "Yeah... yeah... yeah... yeah.. shut up !"
In fact, it was through SNL that I actually began tuning into Chris's show - - and I actually took a liking to him... Rather than finding him to be "anti-intellectual", I found him "anti-rhetoric" - - On the surface it sounds like he's hostile, rude and won't let his guests get in a word likewise, but if you listen in closely, what he does is not allow his guests (who are ALL in the P.R. game some way or another) to lay on their carefully rehearsed soundbits... He listens when they shoot straight, but all hell breaks lose when they start to launch into the same diatribe that they delivered on "Meet The Press" - - when he questions them, rather than eliciting the rhetoric talk show hosts are expected to do, he often lays their own rhetoric on them and cuts them off when they go for their carefully rehearsed speeches. - - After reading this book, it seems clear that Chris Matthews isn't Darell Hammond's cranky old big mouth... the truth is, he knows the game and is having fun throwing side pitches - - in reality, few will fluster or break down and cry (most simply resort to doing little other than repeating themselves over an over), but I think being able to outmouth any powerhouse with a big ceeeeeeegar is somewhat of a fete in itself.
Incidentally, despite the rumors, its hillarious to find out that he was actuall Tip O'Neil's right hand man, and practically learned the game from the old Democratic sage of Capitol Hill ! ! !
Long after Chris's stint as a popular cable TV show talk show host is forgotten, this book will be mandatory reading at high schools, colleges and in the game of life (of course, played hardball style !)
Rating: 5 out of 5
Insiders guide to politics
Hardball is fascinating comprehensive novel on how power is gained and kept Chris Matthews leaves the political garble so often used in politics, and gets down to the simple truths. His book is not only easy to comprehend but entertaining to read. He gives one a true insight into politics as only an insider can experience and witness.
Much like the great Machiavelli his guide to politics is timeless and explains a politician's rise in power or loss of it. Chris Matthews gives the reader-fascinating stories of, assent to power, rivalry, ambition, manipulation, and the loss of power. There is no better way to see how his rules apply to politics than learning about the success stories using his rules and the failures when contenders failed to abide by them. This is the perfect book for both the politically savvy and the normal person interested in politics.
Rating: 5 out of 5
How politics is really played
In his book Hardball author Chris Matthews explains the basics of how politics is played in America. Chris Matthews goes through each principal or technique explains it and gives some examples of how it was used. Matthews uses examples of LBJ, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter and others. The book is a quick and easy read yet is one the best books I have ever read about practical politics. Hardball is broken up into four sections each dealing with a specific theme in which certain principals and techniques are discussed and demonstrated.
The first section of the book is called 'Alliances.' In alliances are the first four chapters of the book. Matthews explains the four concepts of this section of the book using examples of LBJ, Tip O'Neil, Ronald Reagan and others. This chapter examines how to develop alliances, how to keep alliances, who alliances should be made with, and the benefits of alliances with the right people.
The second section of the book is called 'Enemies.' Three chapters are in this section of the book. Matthews uses a number of people from this section to illustrate his points. Matthews uses a very interesting story about revenge to illustrate one of his points. This section of the book explains the technique and importance of incorporating some of your enemies into your team, why it is a waste of time to try to get even with those who wrong you, and an important lesson of how people really react to negative campaigning.
The third section of the book is called 'Deals.' There are two chapters in this section of the book. One of Matthews's key points is illustrated with an interesting story about Winston Churchill. This section of the book shows the importance of keeping quite sometimes and how you can get what you want if you agree with the principal of your opponent's argument.
The forth and last section of the book is called 'Reputations.' There are five chapters in this section. Matthews shows the how to establish and keep a reputation. This section shows that looking directly at your own problem will often make that problem go away, how things are defined often decides who is hurt and who isn't, you must always be wary of members of the media, how to use peoples reputations against them and how to cultivate a reputation most helpful to yourself, and how to position yourself in the most advantages position.
This book is a very good and quick read. This makes it easy for people who don't follow politics to understand what really is happening in Washington and when candidates hit the campaign trail.
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